Prop Chips-gctid380491

[Guest]

I have a couple of knocks in my prop as photo below, question do I leave it alone or do I file it and if I do file it how far do I go, do I just flatten the face or file the chip completely out which will surely change the edge of the blade.

[RGrew176]

Bay Cruise wrote:
I have a couple of knocks in my prop as photo below, question do I leave it alone or do I file it and if I do file it how far do I go, do I just flatten the face or file the chip completely out which will surely change the edge of the blade.

I am not at all a prop expert. If the damage in the photo is all you have at this time I think I would leave it alone. Come your winter season or a period of time when you may not be able to go boating I would take it to a prop shop to have it repaired or fine tuned.

I did not stay in a Holiday Inn last night so take my advice for what it is, someone who is not an expert.

[Guest]

Thanks Rick l will be interested in what others say because I dont have any issues with performance or maybe I should say I don't notice any and it will no doubt cost a lot over here to send it away and have it machined as I live in a small regional area.

[RGrew176]

Bay Cruise wrote:
Thanks Rick l will be interested in what others say because I dont have any issues with performance or maybe I should say I don't notice any and it will no doubt cost a lot over here to send it away and have it machined as I live in a small regional area.

I would think as long as you have no vibration you are probably OK. Others who are more expert in props will chime in and you will get the correct advice.

[itsabowtime2]

I am thinking that minor of a ding will not cause a vibration what would cause damage to the drive. I am no expert. If you go on line to one of the prop sights they may be able to give you an expect answer.

[captharv]

Never, ever file out a ding. It will inbalance and possibly weaken the prop.

If you have no vibration, use it as is, and sometime later send it to a prop shop. They can make it like new. They have the fixtures to re-balance the prop after they weld it up.

A am a retired engineer, with over 40 years of boating experience.

I take my props to a prop shop.

Does this tell you something?

[Guest]

The nicks near hub are inconsequential. It could be photo distortion but it looks like there is a wave in the outer edge of blade?Top of photo? That would be more serious. If youre careful you can realign that with a hammer and an anvil like surface. Use an undamaged blade as a reference as to what it should look like. OR send it out for repair OR if no vibration just run it the way it is.Vibration is the key,I have done all kinds of "forbidden" prop repairs over the years. If it doesnt vibrate you wont damage the drive. Your fuel economy on the other hand may not be what it should be.

[boatworkfl]

It looks like a reflection of the hub/blade area.

[Guest]

Thanks everyone.

The reason I asked the question is that my neighbour who purchased a trawler for over $200,000, yes $200k just for pleasure, running around the Bay and maybe the odd longer trip (nice boat but old and not really my cup of tea), wow just think he could have got a great Bayliner for that kind of money. Anyway he told me to file them dinks out and while he is a nice guy and comes across as very knowledgeable, so far he replaced so many parts on his boat costing in the region of about $50,000 within a few months of purchase, and it has been out of the water longer than it has been in so I don't think he knows that much. So far all the advice, probably 6 or 7 tips that he has given me on what to do on my little boat and trailer have in fact been wrong. Before I listen to him I have always checked with you guys and local boating shops and sure enough it seems he is wrong again.

I get no vibration and the prop has been like this since I purchased it some 18 months ago. The problem I have is I do not have a "no boating season" we use it all year so I might leave it for the moment unless I feel vibration. By the way the photo is not distorted so yes that is a slight "wave - dent" on the top of the blade.

[boatworkfl]

Bay Cruise wrote:
Thanks everyone.

The reason I asked the question is that my neighbour who purchased a trawler for over $200,000, yes $200k just for pleasure, running around the Bay and maybe the odd longer trip (nice boat but old and not really my cup of tea), wow just think he could have got a great Bayliner for that kind of money. Anyway he told me to file them dinks out and while he is a nice guy and comes across as very knowledgeable, so far he replaced so many parts on his boat costing in the region of about $50,000 within a few months of purchase, and it has been out of the water longer than it has been in so I don't think he knows that much. So far all the advice, probably 6 or 7 tips that he has given me on what to do on my little boat and trailer have in fact been wrong. Before I listen to him I have always checked with you guys and local boating shops and sure enough it seems he is wrong again.

I get no vibration and the prop has been like this since I purchased it some 18 months ago. The problem I have is I do not have a "no boating season" we use it all year so I might leave it for the moment unless I feel vibration. By the way the photo is not distorted so yes that is a slight "wave - dent" on the top of the blade.

I think the reference to the photo is the mirror reflection, it looks like a reflection of the hub on the blade, especially if you used a flash.

the contour matches, if the blade was bent you most certainly would feel vibration.

Run what you have, but when you can, find a good prop shop and have the dings repaired, I always have a spare set of props on my inbord, but, you can buy a spare set of aluminum props for spares while your SS props are off line. Hope this helps.

[Guest]

If the op can see a dent Id guess theres a dent,irregardless of all the theories about flash,reflections etc.He is after all looking at the prop up close.A slight wave or dent like that will often go undetcted in my experience, takes a bit more than that,often, to create a noticeable and damaging vibration.Probably down a quarter knot in speed tho.

[Guest]

telstar1 wrote:
If the op can see a dent Id guess theres a dent,irregardless of all the theories about flash,reflections etc.He is after all looking at the prop up close.A slight wave or dent like that will often go undetcted in my experience, takes a bit more than that,often, to create a noticeable and damaging vibration.Probably down a quarter knot in speed tho.

Thanks Telstar1 yep I agree re it doesn't give any problem when on the water so will leave it alone for now but will investigate re getting it machined sometime. Regards the photo and flash yo are right and have a look at what I do for a living !

[Guest]

Bay Cruise wrote:
I have a couple of knocks in my prop as photo below, question do I leave it alone or do I file it and if I do file it how far do I go, do I just flatten the face or file the chip completely out which will surely change the edge of the blade.

The nick near the hub should be dressed to prevent further damage.

Take a long screwdriver (using the shaft) or even a knife sharpening rod and get the sharp edges rounded off.

You can also use sandpaper to do this.